SURPRISE, Ariz. – Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien arrives at camp every year with two personal goals: play 162 games; score 100 runs.
Now, a third: Break his own MLB record for most plate appearances in a calendar year.
Including the postseason, Semien had 835 plate appearances for the Rangers in 2023. He topped the mark of 733, previously set by Lenny Dykstra in 1993 in Game 5 of the World Series. Yes, he played all 162 regular season games; 179 including the playoffs. He scored an AL-best 122 regular season runs and added another 12 in the postseason.
To celebrate, he was back in the Rangers’ weight room at Globe Life Field within two weeks. The carpet still had the aroma of spilled champagne. Just because he played more than ever before didn’t mean resting more, too.
“I went right into it,” said Semien, who has started 294 consecutive regular-season games and played in 485 of his team’s 486 games over the last three seasons.
“I thought about our opponents and the teams that didn’t go as far as us and had an extra month to prepare. So, I thought to myself: ‘Why should I take a three-week break because we went this far. Now, I need to do what I did the last offseason.’”
Breaks were dedicated to helping coach his 7-year-old son Isaiah’s baseball team and helping out with the care of daughter Amelie Carol Anne, born between the AL Division Series and the ALCS.
If Semien isn’t approaching the season any differently, nor are the Rangers changing their approach to Semien. He will likely play about two-thirds of the exhibitions and pile up his usual 60 plate appearances. He will bat leadoff again in the regular season. Bruce Bochy already made that clear. And nobody is going to push for any time off.
“Have I mentioned it to him? Yes, I’ve mentioned it,” Bochy said. “If he’s beat up and banged up, a day off is beneficial. But he loves to play and if you take that away from him, if he’s healthy, is that beneficial? We’re in this game to play and some guys don’t want to sit.”
A year ago, Bochy mentioned taking a day off to Semien just ahead of the All-Star Game. Semien declined and promised the manager “I will definitely let you know,” if I need one. With a smile.
One way or another, if he’s healthy, he’s going to end up with more than 700 plate appearances. If he does, it will be his sixth time at that mark. Only 18 players in MLB history have had as many 700-plate appearance seasons, including Michael Young while he was with the Rangers.
And to think, if he gets to 700, it will almost get him to his goal. Almost. If another long October run follows, he just might get there.
Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray signs autographs following a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers infielder Nathaniel Lowe runs the bases during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff casts a shadow over balls laid out in the outfield before a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers outfielder Derek Hill participates in a bunting drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney participates in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux watches from a golf cart as pitcher Jesús Tinoco tries to make a leaping catch in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers infielder Abimelec Ortiz signs autographs during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien participates in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien participates in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter fills up a bucket of practice baseballs after a drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers Ezequiel Duran (right) laughs with outfielder Evan Carter during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers catcher Andrew Knizner takes batting practice during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitchers Cody Bradford (61) and Brock Burke (46) toss weighted balls into opposite sides of a bullpen wall during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher José Leclerc participates in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Jesús Tinoco peeks through a practice field fence during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Kirby Yates catches a popup in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers first base coach Corey Ragsdale works with infielder Jonathan Ornelas during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)A groundskeeper moves a batting cage during a Texas Rangers spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (left) and pitcher Andrew Heaney walk between drills during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers catchers Sam Huff (left) and José Godoy work in the bullpen during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher David Robertson throws in the outfield during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)A basket of practice baseballs sits ready for a fielding drill during a Texas Rangers spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher José Leclerc can’t make a catch in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher David Robertson (37) talks with pitching coach Mike Maddux during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz. Pitcher Danny Duffy is at right and pitcher Cody Bradford throws in the background.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Jake Latz tries to make a play on a sharp grounder back to the mound in a fielding drill during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)Texas Rangers pitcher Jon Gray signs autographs following a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
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